Iran presumed behind attack on US outpost in eastern Syria
Drones that targeted US forces in the Syrian desert in late October were allegedly Iranian.
US officials believe that Iran “resourced and encouraged” an October 20 attack on a military outpost housing US forces in the eastern Syrian desert which involved drones carrying explosive charges and “indirect fire,” possibly rockets.
A local source from Syria’s Deir al-Zor region told Al-Monitor that four drones had been launched on Oct. 20 from what appeared to be a civilian area between 15 and 20 km west of the city of Albu Kamal in Deir al-Zor.
The source said that those present at the launch included both Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) officials and Syrian government officers from the 4th Armored Division, which is believed to be close to Iran-supported armed groups and Hezbollah and is led by President Bashar al-Assad’s brother Maher.
Iraqi armed factions linked to Iran and part of the “muqawama” (resistance), praised the attack and called it retaliation for airstrikes in the Palmyra desert area in eastern Syria on Oct. 13.
